Adjustable book holder



Nov. 6, 1962 LUNDAY 3,061,969

ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDER Filed April 28, 1960 INVENTOR ROBERT LEE LUNDAY 7}) we 5 iiwis ATTORNEYS 3,061,969 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 1&6

3,061,969 ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDER Robert Lee Lunday, Pinehurst, N .C. Filed Apr. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 25,440 1 Claim. (Cl. 4560) This invention consists of an adjustable book holder, comprising a base for supporting a book, and a pair of adjustable side clamps which may be telescoped into or withdrawn from the sides of the holder to clamp the pages of a book open to a selected page. The holder is thus adjustable to books of different sizes.

While the book holder according to the invention may be supported on a rack, table, or pedestal while in use, the device is primarily designed to be held in the hand by a standing person, and to be of light and simple construction for this use. Hence, song books or hyrnnals are readily contained in the holder and the latter is easily operable to change the book pages or to adjust to other size books of this kind.

The holder of the invention is characterized by a rectangular base and top piece of the same dimensions, spaced apart by longitudinal members at top and bottom, leaving a central longitudinal space or channel in between wherein are slidably arranged two clamp carrying members. Stop means consisting of pins carried by these members engaged in slots formed in the base member to limit the movement of the clamp carrying means and prevent the clamp carrying means from becoming separated from the holder.

Other and further advantages of the invention will be made apparent from a description of the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the book holder with parts broken away and with one of the clamp carrying members in extended position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the book holder with a book and the second position of the clamp shown in phantom, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

The device is made up of a holder body having a base formed of a rectangular sheet of thin, light material such as hard wood or a suitable plastic. Top 11 is of the same configuration and material. Base 10 is pierced by two transverse slots 12 and 13, whose use will be explained below. Base 10 is preferably finished by a bottom covering of a fabric 14 (FIG. 3) which covers the bottoms of slots 12 and 13 and gives the device a gripping surface for the hands as well as a deadening surface to noise.

Base 10 and top 11 are spaced apart by two intermediate divider members 15 and 16, these being rectangular strips of wood running longitudinally across top and bottom of the base and attached thereto by suitable means, such as glue. When the top member 11 is superposed, members 15 and 16 leave a central longitudinal space or channel which accommodates the clamp carrying means. Top 11 is secured to the members 1516, as by screws 17 engaging in holes 18.

The clamp carrying means consists of a pair of slidable tongues 25a proportioned substantially to closely fit inside the dimensions of channel 20. Each of these tongues 252.5a is of a length to occupy substantially one-half the length of channel 20 and to extend beyond the side edges of the device a short distance. At each inner end on the bottom of the tongues 25-25a are mounted depending screw lugs 26-26a for engagement with slots 12 and 13 when the device is assembled. This construction limits the side movement of tongues 25-25a to the length of slots 12 and '13 and prevents unintentional loss or removal of tongues 2525a and the clamps mounted thereon.

The metal clamps 30-36%: each consist of a base 3131a bolted to the external end of the tongues 2525a to which are pivoted the hinged blades 3232a whose edges are parallel to the edges of the holder and which are urged by springs such as spring 33, FIG. 3, into engagement with the top 11, or with the slidable tongues 2525a if the latter are in extended position. The thumb grips 3434a are used to open the clamping blades against the action of the springs. The clamps shown and described are those commonly used to clamp papers to a board, wall, or the like.

The device in the FIG. 2 position is shown with clamps 3030a in their least extended position, gripping the pages of an open book 50 at its side edges. It will be readily understood that, if the book were wider than that shown and overlapped the sides of the top 11, then nevertheless the tongues 2525a could be drawn out of the channel 20 and clamps 30-15% could be operated to clamp the edges of such a book against the extended tongues 30-23% instead of against the main body of the holder or top 11. In FIG. 1, clamp 30a and tongue 25a are shown in the aforesaid extended position. The height of the book to be placed in the holder is immaterial and requires no adjustment of the holder, which carries no obstructions at its top and bottom.

What is claimed is:

A bookholder comprising a rectangular base member, a top member of complementary proportions, said top member having a fiat uninterrupted surface, a pair of spacing members disposed between and across the top and bottom portions of said base and top members, means securing said members together, said spacing members being spaced apart from each other internally of said top and base members to form a transverse internal channel of uniform cross section extending across said bookholder, a pair of tongues having cross sections substantially corresponding to the cross section of said transverse channel and carried for telescopic movement therein, said tongues having end portions extending from said channel at opposite side edges of said bookholder, clamping means mounted on said end portions in a position to exert clamping action against the top member or against the tongue end portions depending on the position of the latter in said channel, and means disposed between said tongues and said bookholder limiting the extent of movement of said tongues in said transverse channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,038,280 Burnett Sept. 10, 1912 1,919,835 Giese July 25, 1933 2,480,233 Fuller Aug. 30, 1949 

